A delegation from Sri Lanka, led by Hon’ble Namal Rajapaksa, Minister of Youth and Sports, Minister of Development Co-ordination and Monitoring and State Minister of Digital Technology and Enterprise Development, and consisting of around 100 senior Buddhist monks belonging to different sects and prominent temples spread across Sri Lanka besides 4 State Ministers and other officials took the inaugural international flight to Kushinagar from Colombo on auspicious Vap Poya Day on 20 October 2021.
Kushinagar has a pre-eminent position given that The Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana here. Kushinagar is considered to be a focal point of the Buddhist Circuit in India and the new international airport, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is likely to strengthen people to people interactions between India and Sri Lanka substantially.
In addition to paying their respects at Parinirvan Stupa and Ramabhar Stupa in Kushinagar, the delegation sought blessings of The Buddha at Mulagandha Kutti Vihara in Saranath and undertook a boat ride in the holy river Ganga during which they also saw the famous ‘Ghats’ of Varanasi.
The sacred Kapilavastu Buddha relics from the Rajaguru Sri Subhuthi Maha Vihara of Waskaduwa were also ceremoniously brought on board the first international flight to Kushinagar by Most Ven. Waskaduwe Mahindawamsa Nayaka Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Rajaguru Sri Subhuthi Maha Vihara.
